02 March 2010

Help Wanted

Oh....but before we see the new dining room....lets take a look back....at what it looked like before....below is what the room looked like when the previous owners lived in it....here's were we began....

and this is what we've done with it....Mr. Wonderful....built me this....a window seat....

and he built me a bookshelf....

one for each side....

and here it is all pulled together....

I painted the table white....and filled the shelves....with baskets and ironstone....there's still some tweaking to be done....I'm not really good at putting vignettes together....but it works for me....for now....and don't mind the patchy walls....I haven't painted the walls yet....I'll be doing that later this week....they'll be painted Simply White by B.Moore.

So....are you wondering why I need your help....

well....I need your advice about the lighting....

we brought the black chandelier with us from California....when we moved here....

but I'm thinking it doesn't work with this room....what do you think?

I'm not sure if I should keep the black one in the photo....or buy a crystal chandelier....or....

get this one {in the nickle finish} from Pottery Barn....I really like that it's simple and classic looking....a lot like this old farmhouse.

48 comments:

I am serioulsy in love here, you have no idea! Scary how similar our tastes are...I could move right in! Now, about the chandelier...an old metal one with crystals would be awesome, but until you find just the right one how about painting the one you have grey and distressing it a bit? I love the Pottery Barn one, but I had one of those at my previous house and I found the light was very "directional", it didn't "spread" like you would usually want it to in a dining room, it just pointed straight down. My husband always said he felt like he was in an interrogation room with the FBI or something. Crazy man. I really love the built in, it looks incredible! ~mary~

OK, seriously, do you find all those fabulous accessories around here because I never see anything like them when I'm out and about! The dining room/bench/shelves look amazing! He did a wonderful job especially with the beadboard - it looks original to the house. I love when I have company and the all hang out on our window bench. It has a casual comforting feeling to it. So, I'm in love with your dining room! I personally would keep the chandelier - it's not too ornate for the room and I like the touch of black. Did you go to the auction? We decided to go at the last minute - I kept looking for someone else with a camera! :) I posted what we bought...an armoire that we hopefully will use for a tv cabinet. Great job on the room ~ you must be thrilled how it turned out.Sarah

Hi Andrea!What a transformation. I love your style. The white furniture and lovely textural accessories you have sprinkled around are wonderful. I wouldn't paint the walls. I would use artwork to bring pops of color to the walls if that is what you are looking to do with paint.As for the light fixture, I would so go with the nickel one. I like the juxtapoition of old and new and i think the nickel finish would go well with your farmhouse look.

Wow...gorgeous room!! I would go with something a little unexpected since you already have the farm house looking going on maybe you would want a cute frenchy looking crystal chandelier.....though the metal one would be very beautiful.

First time commenter here, but I wanted to chime in. I love the look of the room, and I really like the shape/lines of the black chandelier. But I agree it's too dark--I would keep it and change the color. A gray or a distressed white, or depending on what other colors you may want in the room, you could do it a pale color and distress it. Maybe aqua (very popular!) or a pale green or something along those lines. Whatever you decide, I love the room--beautiful!

The window seat is gorgeous, just like the symmetric book shelfs! I know it would absolutely be my favorite spot! Cozy, homely, able to look out of the window, sip my tea and read my favorite magazine.... About the lightning.... I think the black chandelier is not the perfect combo, the simple, classy look light will probably make a heavenly assemble! Keeps the eye on the adorable window seat! But that is off course my personal opinion...

Love the changes you've made to the room. The white table and chairs are fabulous and the beadboard accent on the bookshelves and window seat looks great too. I think the chandelier is too "heavy" for the room. I'm seeing something lighter (not just in color, but in weight or appearance). I like the Pottery Barn light, but I also think you could get the lighter look by painting the chandelier you do have.

It is positively lovely! And your vignettes look fab. I love the ribbon on the basket. I didn't notice the light looking bad or wrong, but if you're looking for something different, I vote for something industrial looking in a metal finish. Something old and clunky and rusty would look super cool against the serene white! Then again, a crystal chandelier always perks things up, too. :) Decisions, decision!

What a great makeover! Lucky you having such a handy husband! I love the window seat and bookshelves!! It's a beautiful room! I have been wanting to paint my dining table white for (seriously!) 10 years! I keep finding excuses because it seems like a lot of work! lol! Hubby said he would do it- 10 years ago, that is! So do you have any tips you can share with us about painting your table? I'm sure I'm not the only one who could use a little tutorial on that subject! :)Michelle

Well, Mr. Wonderful is very talented, as are you. It's just beautiful. I actually really like the black chandelier. It's bringing in that bit of black. I also like the Pottery Barn lights too! I just like the chandelier a bit more.Probably not helping, but that is my 2 cents.Rosemary

Wow Andrea and Hubby what a great job you did with this room! I think it is so inviting. Here's my 2 cents worth, the nickel plated one is to modern for the room. I like the first commenters opinon, gray antiqued or brown. Have fun!

Let me just say I am blown away. Oh my goodness how much fun I could have with those shelves and that window seat. Kudos to Mr. Wonderful!

I think your chandelier works fine until you find the perfect chandelier. I love the look of a rustic farm table and a crystal chandelier. The pottery barn light is fantastic I have a similar one over my sink but I think the room deserves something with a bit more WOW. This is a star light I have been dreaming of for years and it might look great in this space: http://www.sturbridgeyankee.com/starlight-copper-chandelier/p/43037/

Whatever you decide I am sure it will be amazing. I shopped for MONTHS looking for the perfect one for my dining room, don't rush it you will know it when you find it!

What a grand job you both did...I love it!!! Your room is so amazing. I am sorry to be of no help what so ever...I think both ways would be beautiful..ok ok ok...I do have an opinion....I kinda like the pottery barn light. Hugs my friend. xoxoo

Andrea, I'm going with what Flower Patch Farmgirl said-old and clunky and rusty. Even white painted rusty fencing or something. The nickle one is really pretty too, but ? I like all your choices! I guess I'm no help tonight! The room looks really lovely--Have fun! Sherry

Andrea amor, beautiful...just beautiful...you have such a great eye for decorating...how about painting your chandi white and adding some bling?? I got the Pottery Barn catalog..it is here somewhere :) But whatever you chose, I know it will be lovely! And I am jealous of all that beautiful light in your home ;) Besos, Rose

Your room is fabulous! Lucky you to have such a handy husband! I too am doing a makeover on our dining room... and am in the final stages of dressing it. I am partial to anything sparkly and always swoon over rooms with a crystal chandi! I think the ideas to spray yours white and add crystals is genious. Good Luck! Theresa

I agree with Mary (what a great idea!) to paint the light you have grey. I always listen to people that actually 'live' with a product and her comment about the way the fixture directs the light is right on. After painting, how would it look with crystals hanging from the bottoms of the 'curls'? I had no idea there were so many types of crystals - from fancy to plain. AND, isn't your husband a treasure? I'm still waiting for my husband to put up my window blind and it's been here for two months! (but I love him to pieces anyway:)

I have always loved chandeliers, but if you choose not to paint it, the Pottery Barn fixture is perfect for a farmbouse.Your window seat and bookcases are exactly what I have had drawn on paper for a couple of years, yes years. My husband is a carpenter and I have been waiting and waiting for him to do this project for me in our living room. I suppose that says a lot about his work though, everyone else keeps him so busy that he doesn't have time to work at home.Your blog is gorgeous and such an inspiraion ~ thank you for sharing!

Andrea, I just love your dining room. I am thinking about your light fixture, because as you may know I am a light fixture "nut"...just love 'um. I think you might want to go big on this one. I'll keep thinking, however what ever you do it will look stunning in that room.

Oh my ...where to start!! Your dining room is drop dead gorgeous!!!I love every little detail,not very good at vignettes..are you nuts!!!!!!!!! Your very good my dear,very good!! We used simply white in our bathroom,I love it! Whatever light you pick will we pretty!! LOVE IT!!!

Andrea, you silly silly girl, what do you mean you are not good with vignettes, I had to enlarge the photos and drool over your shelves, I love what you did...you did a SUPER job so take all that you said back and run with it girl~! As for the lighting, I read Mary's comment and I think the nickel one does look like it would have one direction lighting and being that you have soft white colors on the walls and the accessories are a mixture of textures I think a crystal chandie would be beautiful, not too many crystals but enough to bring in some sparkle. But who am I to talk, I still have the builders grade chandi over my table! been searching for 5 years! ha! Gorgeous room!

Would definatly play up the one you've got until you find the right one. I agree with a lot of the other comments, paint it, add crystals, and maybe add some new shades. What color was your table previously? I have a tall square table that is stained on top and black on botom and I am just not loving all the dark anymore. I love your white table. I would like to slip cover my chairs and paint my table but have been a little scared too ;) it is a really nice table, I guess that's why I'm so affraid to tackle this one. Should I try to find a junker to fix up and paint or bite the bullet and just paint mine???